Oh powerful Great Hate: Learn Me Trucks

[Kaan]

I was hoping to wait 3-4 years to do this, but totaling the old beater truck MIGHT be forcing my hand. I’ve got a hook up with a local dealer (not Jeff) on “used” trucks… $100 over auction/trade in… I drive 20 miles/day to the van pool, I haul wood/motorcycle/stuff on the weekends, and I probably should get something that can haul the integra around (bonus if I can haul the Jeep… these are wife bonus points, so they are usually worth at least double). I don’t really care about gas mileage… nor should you if you get a truck.

Currently I’m looking at Tundras, F150/250s, and pimpy DJ trucks… BUT I want bed room over crewcab BS, so that really limits the Tundra search. I swear they were only made in 4 door. Is there anything I need to worry about other than making sure I get the 5.7?

There is a WIDE variety in the F150/250… but they are usually higher miles trucks. I’m looking at 5.4 or ecoboost F150s… but other than a 7.3L (and not wanting a 6.0) I know absolutely dickola on ford diesels. And as you know I’m not paying $20k for a 250k mile 7.3l. I can buy the diesel additive in bulk via amazon prime lol

DJs 2006 6.6/Allison are the “new” 7.3L… everyone wants them and it has driven the price up to a crazy high level. I’m pretty sure DJ got a good deal, but 150k miles and $25k don’t float my boat. Are there other GM/chevy options I should keep looking at? I know they offered the 6.6/Allison for a couple of more years from my research… but I think 2006 and newer is the best bet. Any ideas?

There have been a couple of Dodge Cummings (yeah I said it) with the manual 6 speed I’ve noodled. But mopar kids are so loyal its hard to find the ground truth here.

What say the great hate!??!?!

Ps – my budget is cheap but my hook up is good enough to get me some pretty good options. I’d like to get educated and FAST. I might get my new whip this weekend. reliable 4x4 that can haul shit is the main requirement

[JPolen01]

What happened to your beater?

[Kaan]

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[JPolen01]

yeah I just scrolled down there. Glad you're alright.

[Jake]

My vote is for what DJ recommended for me if I didn't go the Denali route - a GMC 2500 with the 6.0L gas motor. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to fuel (right now) and you won't be doing long-haul towing with it, which is really where the diesel shines anyway.

The GM 6.6/Allisons are highly sought-after because there are only two years, IIRC, where you could get that motor, that transmission, and no emissions equipment tacked on. I think 2005 and 2006 are your only real options there.

GM 5.3's are solid but the transmission (4L60-E) is apparently weaker than what the 6.0L Denalis/Escalades got (4L-65E). The 2500HD gassers got the 4L80-E which is stronger still.

[Kaan]

VIR and Roush Creek are 3-4 hours away or so... those are the two places we would tow to "normally"

[HAULN-SS]

You can actually find an occasional Chevy 1500 with the 6.0L too, but gas mileage is turrble in either option (13mpg, all the time, no matter what you do). They also had long bed crew cab, but that's a pretty long truck. The 5.3 versions of that LS are kind of a dog. We had one in a shortbed, and it couldnt get out of its away compared to the 6.0.

With the fords, I'm pretty sure there's a bad 6.0, and a re-released 6.4 a few years later that's supposed to be a lot better - do your own research on that. You didn't exactly say what your budget is, but you said something about post 2006, and I think the 6.4 came out in 2008

[SlimKlim]

And as you know I’m not paying $20k for a 250k mile 7.3l. I can buy the diesel additive in bulk via amazon prime lol

$20k?

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/...5593&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/...4050&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/...3429&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/...9431&Log=0

I mean they're not quite Country-Cadillac trucks but they'll get the job done. Ours could eek ~17-18mpg on the highway and it was a solid truck, just make sure you plug the thing in when temps get below freezing. Apparently there's also a fuel system upgrade you can do to fix the notorious 7.3L hard start issues.

[Kaan]

comfort is secondary. the beater just had some oontz in it and it got the job done. I don't ride in style or comfort.

[SlimKlim]

That's what I figured. That red regular cab is practically the spiritual successor of your old truck, shame it's all the way in CT.

[D_Eclipse9916]

06-07.5 is LBZ motor (6.6) with Allison 6-speed (major improvement over 05-previous)

LBZ doesn't have the injector issues or the head gasket issues of the previous. 07.5-14 has DEF but can get deleted. I hate their ugly new plastic non-functional interiors. LBZ trucks (06-7.5) is considered ugly but tons of functional space to put things.

7.3s are too old. The 7.3 is a diesel HOG, gets terrible gas mileage, and the auto trans WILL blow up/need rebuild. Also, they are OLD now. You want a truck that is reliable. All my friends with 7.3s are ditching them, the bearings/chassis is just falling apart with age, and the reliable motor isnt enough to make up for everything else breaking up. That doesn't even address how newer trucks just simply tow soooo much better.

Open Trailer? You don't need diesel, its a waste. 6.0L with the 4l80 is damn near bulletproof, more than enough oomf, runs on regular gasoline and will get 12-14mpg towing an open. 18-19mpg unloaded. Expect 15mpg mixed.

Dodge = Junk till 2012, sorry just is.
Ford = 7.3 reliable but everything else is failing now, 6.BLOW, 6.4BLOW, I think 2012? great.
GMC = not a good choice till 2006. 03-05 is "okay" but known to have headgasket/injector issues. Anything earlier is JUNK.

If you are looking diesel (not what I Suggest), but I would look for:
15-25k GMC 06-07.5 LBZ, get a crew cab for resale value
25-35k Dodge 12+ or Ford 12+, but ford will be pricier
35k+ 2015+ GMC/2015+ Dodge/2015+ (last choice but only because I just dont like them)

[D_Eclipse9916]

FYI, keep looking, you can find a deal on LBZs for the unaware. I picked up mine for $21k 2 years ago with 98k miles. And its considered the "unicorn" with black leather interior, crew cab, heated seats, sunroof, long bed. In 2 years, I have done fuel filter changes (regular for a diesel), and oil changes. I had to put rotors + pads on it when a right rear caliper seized and changed the "D" rated tires to "E" rated tires to ease my mind about tire loads when towing my 24' enclosed and now my 36' gooseneck.

If you do get a GM truck with 4x4, look up transfer case pump rub. $85 kit fixes it for good. I have the kit and haven't done mine yet but plan to.

[Kaan]

no tundra love? the one thing my contact can do is get HD bow ties and tundras.

[Jake]

no tundra love? the one thing my contact can do is get HD bow ties and tundras.

If your contact can get a HD Bowtie (Grand Canyon panel gaps FTW!!) why not just do that?

[Kaan]

cost, miles, and age are what are killing the 7.3... I realize that but I just feel like if there was a unicorn I'd keep it on the list.

[Senor_Taylor]

I think one of the mid 2000s Chevy 2500s with the 6.0 would be perfect. You'd be hard pressed to NOT find one in a long bed. I've ridden in one and they definitely have some pull. As long as you're not hauling a 30 foot closed trailer, I think you'd be fine without the headache of a diesel and diesel maintenance.

[Jake]

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[Kaan]

6.2l chevy motors... ? knowledge?

[Senor_Taylor]

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Exactly. That's a great looking truck compared to the barren base model "work truck" 6.0 I've been in.

[JPolen01]

ohh and it's got the pimpy center console